Latest news with #CassCountyCommunityFoundation
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nicholas Park, Cassidy Roller are top students for Lewis Cass graduation
Lewis Cass High School will celebrate its Class of 2025 Sunday afternoon during its commencement ceremony. At the top of the class stand students Nicholas Park and Cassidy Roller, who will speak as the school's valedictorian and salutatorian. It's been a school year of milestones for both students. Park was awarded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship by the Cass County Community Foundation in December. The award recognizes the top student in the county and includes full tuition, fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years. The scholarship is for undergraduate students studying on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. A month earlier, Roller was celebrating at Lucas Oil Stadium as the Lewis Cass Marching Kings won their eleventh state championship. Park said he was ready and excited for Sunday's commencement. He plans to attend Rose-Hulman Institute for Technology and study optical engineering in the fall. He credited his friends, teachers, coaches and family for pushing him to achieve academic success in high school. 'When (my peers) work hard it makes me work hard,' he said. 'I feel like I may not have reached valedictorian but because of everyone working towards their goals it helped me achieve mine, too.' The drive to be the best he could be wasn't always there when he began high school, he said. It was during his sophomore year after he lost his when he started to take school more seriously. At first school was a coping technique but he eventually found himself wanting to be a bigger part of Lewis Cass, his church and his community. 'I feel like my father passing my sophomore year really gave me a reason to be better,' he said. 'I knew I wanted to work harder. At the time it was probably a way to keep my mind off it but over time it evolved to be its own thing and I wanted to work harder because I liked it. I liked working and making myself better.' Of course there were a lot of times when he wish he could have been doing something else, like sleeping on a Saturday morning rather than going to a practice. 'But you do anyway,' he said. 'Working hard like that in sports and athletics makes it easier to work hard in school.' During high school he played football, was a wrestler and ran track. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, Logansport Savings Bank Junior Board, Spanish Club, Key Club and Champions Together. His time in high school and working with the Logansport Savings Bank Junior Board taught him about the importance of community. 'You get to see how the community works, how everything flows and how everyone lifts each other up,' he said. 'When I was younger, I didn't really understand that. I see it more and more. It's humbling to see people come together and to understand that I can be part of a community. So, I guess high school taught me how I can be a bigger part in a system and how I can contribute to that.' Park said there wasn't enough room in the newspaper to recognize all the teachers and mentors who helped him achieve success but he said Lewis Cass football coach Clayton Mannering taught him about discipline and Spanish teacher Melanie Karmel was always there when he needed to talk. Roller said she was also excited for Sunday's commencement ceremony and was ready to see what awaited her in the future. She will attend Purdue University where she will study environmental science. She said earning salutatorian made her feel very accomplished because it was an effort that extended throughout her high school career, not just a senior year achievement. 'I spent a lot of time on school work and school activities,' she said. 'I was very involved in school.' Alongside the Marching Kings where she was a horn captain and a section leader, she was a member of the cheerleading team, track and field and active in many of the school's clubs. She said winning the marching band state championship this past fall was amazing. 'Nothing else in life has been as great as that moment was,' she said. 'We accomplished everything we could have. It was a great group of kids, a great group of leaders, a great staff.' She said she would always look back on her time with the Marching Kings and was already missing being part of the program. Band director Alan Hinshaw had been part of her life since junior high and he helped her grow and taught her a lot about being a leader. 'Also, my family has always been there,' she said. 'Anything I needed they were always there. Any hour. Any time of the day.' Roller congratulated Park on earning the title of valedictorian, calling him a great friend during high school. 'There is nobody else I'd rather be behind in this class than him,' she said. 'He's very intelligent, outgoing.' 'Cassidy and I have been at the top of the class for our entire time in school,' said Park. 'It's been great having her as a classmate in all of the highest level classes. She has always pushed me to study harder and do better on assignments.' When Park encountered a challenge in school, Roller was the first person he would reach out to for help. 'She is incredibly smart and hardworking and I am incredibly grateful to have her as a friend and classmate,' he said. Lewis Cass will hold it's commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. on Sunday inside the high school's gymnasium, {span}6422 E. St Rd 218 in Walton.{/span}
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Landis Elementary teacher wins Billman Excellence in Teaching Award
As a bilingual graduate from the Logansport Community School Corporation, Karina Mejia is now giving students opportunities she never had as part of the Dual Language Immersion Program at Landis Elementary. 'We only had languages from our freshman year to senior year and now they can start at a younger age,' Mejia told the Pharos-Tribune in 2022. 'They are becoming more affluent in the language, too.' For her passion and hard work, the Cass County Community Foundation on Wednesday announced Mejia as the 2025 recipient of the Elizabeth A. Billman Excellence in Teaching Award during the end of school year awards at Landis. Deanna Crispen, CCCF president & CEO, and Luke Gangloff, CCCF chairman, made the announcement and commended Mejia for her dedication to her students and their families, ability to create an equitable learning environment and her passion for teaching and community. 'Elizabeth Billman was an educator, administrator, mentor and role model for young women and teachers,' Crispen said. 'When we thought about ways to honor her legacy, this award, to encourage teachers early in their careers, was the result and we know Liz would be proud we are continuing her legacy through the award.' Mejia, who teaches the second-grade Spanish portion of the Dual Language program, was nominated by her assistant principal, Ashley Gangloff. 'Karina forms genuine connections with her students, taking time to understand their backgrounds, their families, and what inspirers them to learn,' Gangloff said in her nomination. 'She creates a warm and welcoming classroom where all students feel valued and supported.' Mejia just completed her fourth year as an educator at Landis. She is the fifth recipient of the award. The Excellence in Teaching Award was established in 2021 to honor the long legacy of Billman, who served on the Board of Directors of the Cass County Community Foundation for 16 years, including two terms as chairman of the board of directors and was on the board of directors at the time of her passing. Billman retired as principal at Thompson Elementary School, now known as Lewis Cass Elementary. She also taught in the Southeastern School Corporation, beginning her teaching career at Washington Township School. She was a member of the Lewis Cass Alumni Association where she received the Distinguished Service Award. In total, she served in the Southeastern School Corporation for 38 years. Mejia was selected for the award from a pool of nominees — submitted by elementary building principals of kindergarten through sixth grade from all county schools — who most exemplify Billman's commitment to the students. The award consists of a $500 stipend for the teacher for their classroom and a commemorative plaque. A permanent plaque is on display at the CCCF office to honor each year's recipient.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Community foundation to hold grant workshop
The Cass County Community Foundation is set to begin its 2025 cycle of community grants, beginning with a free workshop for local nonprofits that are interested in applying The workshop will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 at the community foundation building, 729 E. Market St., and will last less than one hour. The workshop will discuss changes for organizations wishing to apply for the 2025 Grants. The Opportunity Grants Program designed to accommodate grant requests of less than $5,000 will also be discussed with program guidelines and deadlines for submission. 'We are urging all non-profit organizations who intend to apply for either program to have a representative at the workshop,' said Deanna Crispen, president and CEO of the community foundation. 'While attendance is not mandatory, those attending will learn about the application process which we hope will result in a more complete application and better results for our nonprofits. We will also announce the amount of funding available at this workshop.' Space is limited so those planning to attend must call CCCF at 574-722-2200 for reservations. Grant applications and instructions may be picked up at the CCCF office, 729 E. Market Street, downtown Logansport, or downloaded from the Foundation website ( after the workshop. For information about the application process, contact the CCCF office at 574-722-2200.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CCCF opens nominations for Excellence in Teaching Award
The Cass County Community Foundation has opened the nomination period for the 2025 The Elizabeth A. Billman Excellence in Teaching Award. Billman served on the Board of Directors of the Cass County Community Foundation for a period of 16 years, serving two terms as chairman of the board of directors and was on the board of directors at the time of her death. The Cass County Community Foundation established the award in honor and memory of her outstanding service, community leadership and legacy of excellence. 'Billman was an educator, administrator, mentor, and role model for teachers and young women,' the a press release from the CCCF said. Billman retired as principal at Thompson Elementary School. She also taught in the Southeastern School Corporation, beginning her teaching career at Washington Township School. She was a member of the Lewis Cass Alumni Association where she received the Distinguished Service Award. Billman served in the Southeastern School Corporation for 38 years. The Award is presented annually to an individual teaching at the elementary school level, kindergarten through sixth grade, at Caston, Lewis Cass, Logansport, or Pioneer School Districts. Nominees must have completed five years of teaching or less and be nominated by their building principal. Nominations are due to the foundation by March 31. The award consists of a $500 stipend for the teacher and a plaque. A permanent plaque has been designed and is located at the CCCF office to commemorate each year's recipient. The Award is presented in May. Previous recipients include Jennifer Rosenberger of Franklin Elementary in 2021, Katie Easter of Lewis Cass Elementary in 2022, Brittany Bertrand of Lewis Cass Elementary in 2023, and Jordan Helton of Fairview Elementary in 2024. 'Liz was the consummate servant leader, a true friend and colleague,' CCCF president Deanna Crispen said. 'The impact of her leadership and significant contributions of time, talent, and treasure reached far beyond what she ever imagined. In a time when the world struggles to know the truth, Liz was a shining example of how to live a full life in service to others, true to herself and unwavering in her faith. She is deeply missed.'
